1998 – Year Two of NETHERWORLD Haunted House
In 1998 NETHERWORLD moved to Norcross GA to the Georgia Antique Center. The crew had planned to build 2 haunts that year, a traditional supernatural themed one and a science fiction based attraction called Vault 13. The space was bigger than the previous location in Kennesaw but still not large enough for two haunts, so the theme changed halfway through without an intervening queue line. The owners made contact with the role playing game company White Wolf and after some crazy brainstorming it was decided that NETHERWORLD would create a Haunted House based on the popular VAMPIRE THE MASQUERADE game as the primary attraction.
Two other firsts for NETHERWORLD happened that year as well. Doug Bradley – The actor portraying Pin Head in the Hellraiser movies visited the haunt and greeted guests and signed autographs for an evening. Also after vowing never to use chainsaws we cranked one up and haven’t put it down since! When the season ended NETHERWORLD had been successful once more, and the haunts were packed away into tractor trailers until a new home could be found.
Trapped in a war between Vampire Clans, the Colber House is chosen for the haven, a place where the shroud is thin, a place often used as a door between worlds. Allies are gathered, Redcaps and Gargoyles serve the mage, and a War Ghoul is created in the catacombs beneath the house. Baron Samidi is hired to provide an army of Zombies, and the Sabbat Warparties arrive. For protection against attack, powerful magical wards are erected to repel the Camarilla Vampires and the Lupines often drawn to the place…
Prophets and madmen have long predicted the end times, the endless night, when the dead would return to walk the earth. Many beings have prepared for the day the shroud is ripped asunder, none perhaps so carefully as the clan of Vampires known as the Giovanni….or so they thought.
From the deepest Labyrinth, out through the swirling Maelstrom, comes a messenger, The Angel Of Death, the Herald of an inhuman intelligence spoken of only in whispers. It finds the pawn it seeks, a young Nephandus sorcerer only recently corrupted, and grants three gifts: Power to achieve his dreams and desires , Horror as his once handsome flesh melts into a writhing mask of pain, and a Plan to fulfill his need for destruction.
The Nephandus contacts a Tzimisce warlord planning the siege of a major Camarilla held city, and they form an alliance. As the mage prepares a nearby haven from which to launch the attack, agents of the Sabbat steal an artifact from the Pisanob Giovanni, the Golden Skull of Mictlantecuhti.
The Colber House is chosen for the haven, a place where the shroud is thin, a place often used as a door between worlds. Allies are gathered, Redcaps and Gargoyles serve the mage, and a War Ghoul is created in the catacombs beneath the house. Baron Samidi is hired to provide an army of Zombies, and the Sabbat Warparties arrive. For protection against attack, powerful magical wards are erected to repel the Camarilla Vampires and the Lupines often drawn to the place by its Wyrm taint.
The plan is put into motion…Warparties isolate and attack powerful Camarilla foes, Zombies stagger down the street turning the Masquerade on its ear, and the mage plays his trump. At the nexus of the Netherworld Gate, he summons an army of Wraiths, controlling them with the Skull. In moments they will enter our world, overwhelming the Camarilla and signaling the beginning of the Endless Night. That is… if all goes according to plan.
But… A powerful Kindred Elder, a secret member of the Iconnu, has learned bits of the plan from a ghostly figure known only as “C”. The Elder has provided the Prince of the City with The Arc Of Salubri, a relic designed to counter the Giovanni artifact. Apparently this has happened before as the Baalii once used the Skull to control demons. He recruits a group of mortals to enter the haven and disrupt the summoning, perhaps even turning the Wraiths on their would be masters!
Later.. as The Angel Of Death passes the swirling Maelstrom into the deepest Labyrinth with news for its unknowable master, it realizes that victor of the game is meaningless. Now the Sabbat and Giovanni will war, weakening a dangerous foe long before the Endless Night begins. And any rip in the Pattern Web caused by a disruption of the Masquerade or a rend in the Shroud will make the end times even sooner. “C” will be very, very pleased……
Contact Has Been Lost With A Government Base Hidden Deep Beneath The Earth! You must descend to the Vault and find out what happened…
But Beware: The containment systems are down!
Genetic Mutations, Warrior Cyborgs and Bizarre Creatures from the Earth’s Inner Core roam the blackened corridors in Search of Human Flesh!
Vault 13- Classified Level 7 Clearance Only
Agent Code Name: Glass Walker………
Subject: Vault 13 – Mobius Project
Begin Transmission…..
As you know, we recently moved the Mobius Project to Vault 13. After our impressive results with the germ warfare unit and the cybernetic control implants, it seemed the perfect place to continue the research.
Located 1 mile beneath the earth, hundreds of miles away from any populated areas, we felt the utmost confidence that any mishaps could be contained. As a secure storage facility, the Vault had already proven it’s value for many years, with successful retention of the Deepcore 7 lifeforms, the Toxic Animates, and of course (lest we forget)….the Liver Eater & its brood.
I am sure you remember our investigation of the events in the Colber House over one year ago. The discovery of certain journals containing unknown technologies sparked interest on the highest levels. Construction began at once but all attempts to recreate the “Mobius Event” failed due to lack of a proper power source. In 1948, Dr. Colber used so-called “Occult Energies” to power his gateway, but these methods proved impractical for us.
When “C” suggested we use the Resonance Accumulator from the Roswell Craft stored in Vault 13. Last month we moved the Mobius Project from our Groom Lake facility to the Vault, and work began in earnest.
This is why you have been contacted. Three days ago, the “Gate” was opened and something emerged. We thought we were prepared for any hostile lifeforms, but even the Eviserator 2000 in full battle mode lasted only 3.5 seconds. The Group has discussed the situation, and the use of your special talents was suggested.
All contact has been lost with the Vault. You must descend to the Project level and take whatever actions are needed. But be warned… the containment systems are down. Subsurface listening outposts have detected “digging.” We can only assume all the “subjects” are loose, along with a dangerous xenomorph we know nothing about. Scattered signals from the security systems suggest the Lasers and Warbots are still functioning, but in the control of our “Visitor.”
Good Luck!
Transmission end……
Reviews from 1998
“4 Pumpkins”—Highest Rated Haunt
– AJC
“Netherworld has creative touches that rise to the level of an art form.”
– AJC
“Netherworld’s mammoth Haunted House will knock your socks off.”
– Where Atlanta Magazine
“The Netherworld in Norcross is indeed the acme of the many haunted houses…guaranteed to please every scare seeking patron.”
– The Emory Wheel
“Immense and breathtaking.”
– The Emory Wheel
“The most exciting haunted house around.”
– The Emory Wheel
“Netherworld Haunted House is guaranteed to scare the bejesus out of you…”
– Creative Loafing
“A must experience for all horror lovers”
– The Atlanta Sideshow
“Netherworld is for those who are more serious about haunted houses and can handle a real fright.”
– The Stormy Petrel (Oglethorpe University)
“It’s [Netherworld] very scary, very well done…
I did cry, I just got overwhelmed, the tears started coming, but it was really great!”
– Nancy Loveland, Good Day Atlanta, WAGA TV
“This isn’t your typical Haunted House…it’s more Hollywood than anything.”
– Carmen Burns and Kathy Ballou, Peachtree Morning, WXIA TV
One of ten noteworthy haunts nationwide to be mentioned in The Wall Street Journal
“The most impressive event in the Southeast.”
– TRAVELHOST Magazine
“The actors terrify visitors as frighteningly realistic characters in brilliant costumes.”
– Gwinnett Scene
“A state-of-the-art spooky attraction.”
– Gwinnett Scene
“Not for the faint of heart.”
– Gwinnett Scene
“The experience promises a myriad of special effects and makeup techniques creating a REAL haunting experience this Halloween season.”
– The Champion
“One of the South’s premiere Halloween experiences, the Netherworld is guaranteed to scare you silly.”
– This Week Gwinnett
“One of the nation’s foremost fear factories.”
– Break, Tallahassee’s Entertainment Weekly
“The creators of Netherworld have outdone themselves with Hollywood movie-quality sets brimming with oddities.”
– Gwinnett Loaf